Friday, November 4, 2011

Does the former CEO of the National Restaurant Association with ties to Romney campaign know more than he is saying?

On Tuesday
I broke the story that a Romney supporter, the subsequent C.E.O. of the National
Restaurant Association after Herman Cain likely had access to inside
information about the sexual harassment allegations against Herman Cain.

Given a piece of news today about the timing of settlement,
the likelihood Steven C. Anderson had knowledge of at least one of the
settlements is extremely high.

According to
information at the National Restaurant Association Steven C. Anderson took
over at the National Restaurant Association in September 1999.According to Joel Bennett, per CBS
News, attorney for one of the women who received a settlement, the
settlement agreement was executed in September 1999, the same month Steven C.
Anderson took over as C.E.O.It would be
highly unusual to take charge as the executive without knowledge of recent or
impending litigation status.

Steven C. Anderson
claims no knowledge

A reporter took my advice and followed up with Steven C.
Anderson.According to the Boston
Globe:

"Chris Krese, a
spokesman for Steven Anderson, told the Globe, 'He has not commented about this
story because he didn’t have knowledge of the allegations when he was president
and CEO of the (National Restaurant Association). He didn’t have knowledge of
it so he obviously couldn’t have provided the story to the media or anyone, and
he didn’t provide the story to the media or anyone.'”

I tend to take people at their word when their explanation
is plausible, so I left it alone for a few days.

So does Steven C.
Anderson know more than he is saying?

He has to know more.

Set aside the exact timing in September of him taking office
at the National Restaurant Association for a few moments and find some
description of his role when he came aboard:

"Anderson now is learning
the ropes at the NRA. Since the announcement of his appointment in late May, he has spent much of the summer in conducting an organizational audit
of the group and talking With the board's leadership. He also has visited
the Educational Foundation and attended a meeting of the International Society
of Restaurant Association Executives.

In early August he
moved his personal effects -- pictures of his children, several photos of past
presidents wishing him well and framed articles chronicling his career -- into
his new corner office. He now is
collecting the war stories of senior staff members behind closed doors. In
September he will tackle budget issues. After assessing the necessity and
effectiveness of programs that are now in place, he will begin to make changes,
he said." (emphasis added)

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